Ball joint



Patented June 6, 1944 BALL JOINT Anthony Venditty, Detroit, Mich.,

assigner to Thompson Products Incorporated. Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 2, 1942, Serial No. 441,509

9 Claiml. (Cl. 287-90) menber with an eye end receiving a pair of opposed bearing rings together denning a spherical seat for a ball. The housing has an internally threaded shank for receiving one control rod. The ball has a bore therethrough terminating in flat faced collars or bosses integrally amxed to the ball. A second control rod can extend through this bore and have abutment means thereon for coacting with the collars. The ball is free to move in the bearing rings and these rings are urged into proper bearing engagement with the bail by spring washers interposed between the rings and shoulders provided in the eye portion of the housing; One of the spring type washerswcan be used as a means for locking the bearing rings in the eye end ot the housing.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention the ball can be covered with an oilless bearing material or can, if desired. be composed, in its entirety, of oilless bearing material.

It is, then, an object of the invention to provide a ball joint especially useful for control rod linkages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compact ball joint assembly utilizing spring washers to accommodate diiierences in sizes of the bearing parts so that careful tolerance limits are not essential.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a ball joint having the ball member thereof equipped with an oilless metal bearing surface and having the socket member thereof composed of opposed bearing rings.

A still further object oi this invention is to provide a ball joint socket wherein a housing member has an eye end receiving a pair of opposed bearing rings together defining a segmental spherical seat in the housing.

Other and be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description oi the annexed sheet of drawings which, by way of preferred examples, illustrates two embodiments ot the invention. i

On the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a ball and socket Joint assembly according to this invention mounted in a control rod linkage, with a part oi the joint shown in vertical cross section along the line I-I of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a plan view oi the Joint construction shown in Figure i.

Figure 3 is' an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view with parts inelevation, oi the joint construction shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a modified form oi ball for'the joints of this invention.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through one of the spring washers used in the joints of this invention.

As shown on the drawing:

The Joint, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, includes a housing member i0 having an eye end il and a laterally extending cylindrical shank I2 integral with said end i I. The shank l2 is internally threaded to receive the threaded end II oi a A rod. i4.

'I'he eye end Il of the housing has a cylindrical bore I5 therethrough normal to the shank I2. The bore I5 is bottomed by a shoulder II which extends inwardly around the periphery of the housing to provide a reduced opening i1 at the bottom of the housing.

The top of the bore I5 is counterbored to provide a shoulder I8.

A pair oi seating rings i9 and 20 have external diameters tting the bore I5 and reduced diameter end portions isa and 20a. The portion |94 of the bearing ring i9 snugly nts the opening`ll oi' the housing. The reduced portion 20a of the bearing ring 20 projects through the top of the housing.

A spring washer 2l is seated on the shoulder I6 of the housing to receive the shoulder lsb oi the bearing ring I9 thereon. The shoulder lsb extends inwardly frbm the outer diameter oi the bearing ring to the reduced diameter lia of the bearing ring.

As shown in Figure 5, the spring washer 2l in its free condition is dished so that its inner rim 2 la is at a level oiiset from the level oi the outer rim 2lb. When the washer is flattened it has a further objects oi the invention will tendency to spring back to its free position and,

in so doing, has a spring eifect on parts which abut the same.

A second spring washer 2| is seated on the top shoulder Il of the housingand extends over need only form an exterior cover for the ball and th'e ball can have a composite structure.

From the above descriptions it will be understood that an exceedingly simple, and inexpenthe shoulder 29h of the seat ring 29. 'I'he top 5 sive joint construction has been provided for rim oi' the housing is spun or peened over the articulately joining a plurality of rods such as outer marsinal Portion of this second washer 2| airplane control rods. The joints of this invenas at 22 to lock the washer in position against tion can be quite small, having an over-all the ShOulder and thereby hold the seating ring length of about an inch and three quarters and 2l in the housing. 10 a ball diameter of about a half inch.

The seating rings. when thus Positioned 111 the It will, of course, be understood that various eye end 01' the housing. are urged toward each details of the invention may be varied through other. awide range without departing from the prin- Each seating ring has an internal segmental ciples of this invention and it is, therefore.. not Spherical bearing Surface 23 This hearing sur" l5 the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon 0e 11381175 major diameter positioned at the lon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the gitudinal center of the eye end preferably on appended claims. i the axial plane of the shank I2. I oioim es my invention:

A metal bou u is Seated in the bearing rings 1. A ball and socket joint construction com- |9 and 2l on the segmental spherical surfaces 23 20 prisme e housing having e bore therethrough thereof. The. metal ball 24 has a bore 25 therewith an intumed shoulder at one end there through- Ths bore extends through the center and a countersunk enlarged portion at the other of the ball. Collars 26 are formed integral with end thereof a spring washer seated on Said opposite sides of the ball at the ends of the bore Shoulder a eating ring in said-housing abutting and are apertured to continue the bore to their 25 said s rin washer a second eatin ring in ilat outer faces 26a. Ii' desired, of course, the o said hlusig cooperating with Sthe gtst mem :graz: benculd be welded or otherwise Secured tioned seating ring to denne a ball socket in the housing, a second washer seated in said counterlateeleeig'illlieoztahsm llilmrviisgcln sunk portion of the housing and extending ovei oiset threaded end portion 21a thereon. The 30 e portalen of the second Seating me' said nous' oil'set portion extends through the collars and Y lng ,bolug Spun Over the marglnal peripheral bore. An abutment collar .or nut 29 is formed portlon ef the second .spuug Washer to secure integral with or provided on the rod 21 to thrust the .Washer to ehe housmg und thereby hold the against a collar 26. A` nut 29 can be threaded 35 Seenng n ngs 1n the heusmg e' be member on the free end of the offset portion 21a to abut xnounted, 1n the Socket provided by the Seann the other collar l y rings, said ball member havingla bore extend- The rods Il and 21 are thus joined in universal ng therethrough eoners on solo non member relation since the ball can rotate and tilt in all at the onus of salu bore presenting not oueer planes relative to the housing. If desired the 4i)` faeesvsaru conero being epereured to oonnuue outer ends of the seating rings I9 and 20 can be solo bore of the hun to the not outer focos beveied as at 3 to permit o Wider degree of thereof,.arod extending through said bore, abutangulation of the rod since the collars 26 can moht'mouhs on solo rod thrusting against the move into the beveled poi-tions of the ringsilat outer faces of .said collarst a shank extend- The spring washers 2| will urge the rings I9 45 ing from said housing, and an internally threadand 2| toward each other and since they are Ved wall in said shank adapted to receive a second flattened when assembled in the eye of the housroo ing. they serve to onohoi. the seating rings I 2. A ball for a ball and socket joint construcagainst rotation relative to the bore l5. One of hoh oomprlsrng a meto] member hoving o' Serres the washers 2| cooperates with the peened end 5o of annular grooves doorousmg 1h dla'rhoter from' 22 of the housing li to hoid the bearing rings in a 669ml ,groove and bOPnded by HPS 0f dethe housing creasing diameter extending from said central As shown in Figure 3, if the ball 24 is somegroove, and an oilless bearing metal anchored what oversize so as to hold the seating rings |9 m Said grooves ahu-ooverrng Said ribs to Present and 20 in spaced opposed relation, the washers 55 a Spherical Surface ohserd metal rhombor 2| will constantly urge the bearing rings toward 3, A hou and socket Joint oomhrsrhg u houshlg each other so as to accommodate any wear dehe'vrhg o' boro therethrough With u h mturhou veloped on the bearing surfaces betweenthe ball i Shoulder au one oud thereof' o' Shrrh3 Washer and the n'ng. The washers in such instance act Seated on Soru ehouluer e' nrst neurlng rrng Shu' as automatic wear take-up members, tending to oo only mounted 1u solo houslhg und, bottomed on close up the gap 3| between the rings. o Sold sprung Wagonerg o second heermg ring Shu It is preferred to form the ball 2l of an Oilless only mounten m sogni housmg u1 spueeu relation bearing material such' as graphite-impregnated from salu met beenng ring and oooperenng with bronzes or the like. The seating rings I9 and the ursu hearlhg nhg to denne a hou socket in the 2| can be formed of Steel. 65 housing,ra second washer secured in said housing In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the bau t0 Overlap Said Secfgnd bearing ring for holding 29a can have a series of grooves 32 therearound both hearing rings m the houslhg und o' hau u1 decreasing in diameter from' the great circle of the ball Socket defined by Said bearing rings. Suid the bou. These grooves open outwardly and are Spring washer beine compressed between the inbounded by annular ribs 33. Oilless bearing ma- 70 turned ShOulder and the first bearing ring fOr urging the rst bearing ring toward the second bearing ring to decrease the space between the bearing rings.. and take up wear between the ball and ball. socket.

4. A ball and socket Joint comprising a housterial 34 is cast in or impounded in the grooves 32 and extends outwardly to cover the ribs 33 so as to present a spherical exterior surface for the ball member completely covering the body metal of the ball. This oilless bearing material thereby 7l ing, a pair of opposed bearing rings in said housing cooperating to define a ball socket, a ball in said ball socket having a bore extending therethrough, collars on said ball at the ends of the bore presenting thrust faces, said collars being apertured to continue said bore of the ball to said thrust faces, and a rod member extending through said bore having abutment means thereon thrusting against said thrust faces of said collars.

5. A ball construction adapted for a ball and socket joint which comprises a metal sleeve having spaced external annular ribs successively increasing in diameter from the ends of the sleeve and providing grooves therebetween, and bearing material surrounding said sleeve anchored thereto and covering the ribs, said bearing material providing a spherical surface on said sleeve.

6. A ball construction adapted for a ball and socket joint which comprises a core having a series of spaced annular grooves successively increasing in diameter froml the ends of the core, ribs adjacent each groove successively increasing in diameter from the ends of the core, and a ball of bearing material around said core seated in said grooves and covering said ribs to present a spherical external surface.

7. A ball and socket joint construction comprising a housing having a cylindrical bore therethrough with an inturned shoulder at one end thereof and a countersunk enlarged portion at the other end thereof, a pair of normally spaced apart bearing rings having outer cylindrical walls slidably engaging the cylindrical bore of the housing and having fragmental spherical inner walls cooperating to define a ball socket, said bearing rings having reduced diameter cylindrical end portions, at outer annular shoulders on said bearing rings at the inner ends of said reduced diameter cylindrical end portions, one of said shoulders being adjacent the inturned shoulder of the housing, a spring washer disposed around the reduced diameter cylindrical end portion of the bearing ring having the shoulderv adjacent said inturned shoulder of the housing, said spring washer being bottned on said shoulder ofv the housing and acting on said shoulder of the bearing ring to urge the bearing ring toward the other bearing ring, a washer disposed around the reduced diameter end portion of the other bearing ring and having an inner marginal portion overlying the shoulder of said other bearing ring and an outer marginal portion extending into the countersunk enlarged portion of the housing, said housing being spun over the outer marginal portion of said washer to cooperate with said shoulder of the housing for retaining said bearing rings in the housing, a ball member movably mounted in the ball socket provided by said bearing rings, and said spring washer being effective for taking up wear between the ball member and ball socket by urging the bearing rings toward each other for decreasing the space therebetween.

8. A ball and socket joint construction which comprises a ball member having a bore therethrough, apertured bosses on opposite sides of said ball member having outer 'abutment faces and continuing said bore to said faces, a pair of spaced opposed bearing ringsl surrounding said ball and cooperating to provide a ball socket, a housing slidably retaining said bearing rings, resilient means in said housing urging said bearing rings toward each other to decrease the space between the rings and take up wear between the ball and ball socket, and a rod swivelly mounted in said bore of the ball member having abutment means thereon thrusting against said faces of the apertured bosses on the ball member.

9. A ball and socket joint construction comprising a housing having a laterally extending shank portion adapted to be connected to a rod or the like, and an open ended eye end portion,

' a -pair of opposed bearing rings mounted in said eye end portion of the housing and cooperating with each other to define a ball socket, a ball in said ball socket having a bore therethrough, apertured bosses on opposite sides of said ball pro- 40 jecting beyond the open ends of said eye portion of 'the housing and having outer abutment faces, said bosses continuing said bore to said abutment `faces, and means swivelly mounted in said bore of said ball member having shoulders thereon 45 cooperating with said abutment faces of the bosses to retain said means in said bore.

ANTHONY VENDI'I'I'Y, 

